Five players make U.S. debuts in draw with Canada

Jurgen Klinsmann handed international debuts to five players in the draw with Canada: Matt Besler, Juston Morrow, Tony Beltran, Will Bruin and Alfredo Morales.

The United States and Canada failed to put tallies on the scoreboard in a 0-0 draw Tuesday night, but five Americans did tally international debuts.

Jurgen Klinsmann started a back four that had one combined international appearance before the match. Matt Besler, Justin Morrow and Tony Beltran all pulled on a U.S. jersey for the first time in a competitive match during the 0-0 draw in Houston. Later, debutantes Will Bruin and Alfredo Morales entered as substitutes.

"You know, you obviously sense players, when they go into their first camp, that they are tense, they are nervous," Klinsmann said. "Even if it’s not the biggest game, it is a special moment. So the Brad Davis, or Kyle Beckerman or Brad Evans that are around the block for quite a while now, they calm them down. They told them, 'No problem, if you make a mistake you make a mistake.'"

The novice back line kept a clean sheet against a conservative Canuck lineup. Beltran, though, made way at halftime for midfielder Benny Feilhaber in a tactical adjustment.

Houston Dynamo forward Bruin, who scored two goals in a 3-0 win over Club Tijuana during a closed-door friendly last week, came on in the 74th minute, along with Morales. Neither could figure out a resolute Canadian defense.

All five debutantes had three weeks to show Klinsmann their capabilities, with the friendly coming after a January camp in southern California. Klinsmann indicated that six to eight of the players in camp will make it onto the roster for the World Cup qualifier against Honduras on Feb. 6.

"I think we saw so much during the whole three weeks that we have a pretty good picture about where they're at," Klinsmann said. "As we said before the game already, we were impressed with the shape and with their willingness and also with their qualities."